To the skeptics of the gentle horse training movement I ask “would you get your teeth worked on by your grandfather’s dentist”, and naturally the answer is a resounding “NO”. “Well why not” I’d ask only to hear familiar answers “those days were barbaric” or “research & technology have improved, we know so much more now”. So why not make the same argument with respect to horse training? Why would we continue on a path that is obsolete and no longer serves our humane sensibilities? The use of whips, spurs, force and pain are unnecessary in the face of ongoing research and study of equine behavior. We now understand that horses are genetically wired to require a herd leader at all times, even in a herd of two, you and your horse. When using a horse’s genetic wiring to communicate there is no need for force, pain and devices to train and control a horse.

Even the bit is no longer needed when you are working with a horse’s natural instinct! However, when bitless riding is discussed the most common fear expressed by horse owners is “my horse will run away if I take the bit out their mouth”. To that fear my response is “you might want to re-evaluate your relationship with your horse”. When your horse instinctively recognizes YOU as their herd leader their natural response is to not leave your side. If you teach your horse about their emergency handbrake making it the safe and loving place you go when you two are in trouble, it doesn’t take force or pain to stop your horse.